ARTIST: Thomas Nast
PUBLISHER: Published by "Harper's Weekly," New York.
MEDIUM: Wood engraving,
DATE: January 4, 1879.
EDITION SIZE: Vignette, image size 19 3/4 x 13 3/8" (51 x 34 cm)..
DESCRIPTION: A 19th-century perspective of Thomas Nast's Santa Claus, titled "Merry Christmas," captured as a wood engraving and colorized to highlight the details. Wood engraving, Vignette. Published by "Harper's Weekly," New York on January 4, 1879. Thomas Nast played a crucial role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus through his illustrations for Harper's Weekly during and after the Civil War. His first significant depiction appeared on January 3, 1863, where Santa was presented as a Union supporter, dressed in a star-covered coat and striped pants, distributing presents to soldiers. Nast's Santa flew in a sleigh, delivered gifts via chimneys, and embodied the festive spirit, heavily influenced by Clement Clarke Moore’s poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Nast's drawings from the 1863 and 1865 Christmas issues connected the holiday with patriotic themes, reinforcing Union morale. His 1866 illustration showed Santa preparing for his busy night, further popularizing the jolly figure. The most famous of Nast's works, "Merry Old Santa Claus," published on January 1, 1881, depicted Santa with a soldier's backpack, dress sword, and U.S. belt buckle, reflecting pro-military sentiments and emphasizing the importance of good behavior. While Nast's illustrations were in black and white, featuring Santa often in fur, it was Louis Prang's postcards in the 1870s that popularized Santa's red suit. Later, Haddon Sundblom's Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930s solidified the image of Santa as a plump man in a red and white suit. Nast's foundational work helped shape the beloved icon of Santa Claus into a symbol of jolliness and generosity, deeply embedded in American culture.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
CONDITION: Good condition with modern handcoloring. A few minor smudges in the margins. Horizontal fold line as issued.
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